witticisms by Jess Witty

April 12, 2013

Handy Hardware

Hello, friends!
 
It's that time :)
Papertrey Ink is bringing you all new products for the April release and I get to feature one of them today.  {Just a note... all of Papertrey's April releases will be available for purchase at Papertrey Ink beginning April 15.}
 
Introducing Handy Hardware...

 

Now, I'm going to be straight up honest here.
I am the daughter of a carpenter.
I'm the granddaughter of a carpenter.
This week alone I have been logging hours alongside my dad in the woodshop prepping a not-gonna-lie-it's-gonna-be-the-most-fantastic-birthday-gift-of-all-time for my daughter.
{Pictures to come after the big birthday reveal, I promise.}

It's practically genetically guaranteed that I would like this set.
I mean "Measure twice, cut once"? I was RAISED on that saying.
I think I would have been down right offended had I not been given the chance to feature this one ;)

So, I made these projects with certain folks in mind, one of them being my dad...


Hmmm... I'd say someone who has completed my workspace remodel (building custom upper and lower cabinets to house all of my crafting supplies), constructed and installed butcher block countertops in my kitchen, rewired said kitchen, and topped it all off by installing one *gigantic* farmhouse sink and faucet deserves a little thank you complete with gift card, right?  ;)

I couldn't resist pairing Handy Hardware with some real wood paper (from Creative Imaginations).  The panel at the top of the card is adhered flat while the lower panels are adhered with foam tape around the 3 outside edges.  That leaves plenty of room for the gift card to slip in and out... the saw serves as the pull tab. {FYI, the saw is a single image... it was super easy to just mask it off and stamp the 2 portions separately to get the image with both colors.} 

he 2 panels at the bottom are adhered together.  This card is a bit taller than normal to accommodate the gift card so I added the second panel at the bottom to balance the bottom out visually. 

I finished out the inside with another coordinating sentiment...

 
And yes, I put it right about the cut line of the wood paper because I'm punny like that ;)
 
And thus completes one of my favorite masculine cards of all time. 
I just love it and I know my dad will get a kick out of it!
 
 
This one is a bit more traditional...
 

This time I paired Handy Hardware with Background Basics: Farm & Barn.  These two were just meant to be, don't you think?

I like to leave just a bit of space between the planks when I stamp that background... love how it really looks like panels.  I wanted the tools to really show up well so I did the background in gray and the tools in Dark Chocolate and Pure Poppy, masking the hammer and screwdriver as needed. 

My grandpa had *lots* of tools in his shop (yes, my grandpa had a woodshop and now my dad has a woodshop... apparently I will need to trade stamps in for a woodshop at some point ;) and I always liked the ones with painted handles, so that's the look I was going for.  Those little tools would also look super cool with some silver embossing... just another idea.


 
Once I made cards inspired by my dad and my grandpa, I decided that it would be really fun to take Handy Hardware in a completely direction and go with a card inspired by my girlfriends.
 
Last month I went on a little antiquing expedition with some friends to a *huge* monthly antiquing fair (yes, it was Canton, for all you Texans).  I was on a mission to find the pieces I needed to start the aforementioned birthday gift for Noelle.  My girlfriends *totally* helped me find just the right pieces and talked through all the details of this rather large project {any guesses on what it is??}.  So, in honor of my DIY girlfriends, I went with a pinterest inspired project...
 


If you follow any home design blogs or follow their authors on pinterest, maybe you're familiar with the campaign style dresser...

 

 
 
 
Making a campaign style card... somehow incorporating all that shiny gold hardware... has been on my mind for a while now and the sentiments in Handy Hardware were perfect to finally bring it to life.  
 


Soooo... yeah...
it's like Handy Hardware gone *fancy.*

I took one of those silver screw brads that lots of us have stashed away somewhere, heated it up with my heat gun, and then just dipped it right into the gold embossing powder while it was blazing hot.  The powder instantly melts and voila... silver hardware become gold. 

And the campaign "hardware?"
Just squares of cardstock smashed into a VersaMark inkpad, coated with embossing powder, and heated.  Three tiny gold brads in each one makes all the difference.


To keep with the luxe look, I paired it with some black shimmer cardstock. 
With super simple cards like this one, the details are super important... the shimmer helps keep the style consistent.

An "I screwed up" card... I probably need to keep several of these on hand ;)

That's it for me today but there's more sneaks to be found here...
Nichole Heady
 
Thoughts on Handy Hardware?


{Cut Once} card
Supplies not available now but available 4/15: 
Stamps - Handy Hardware
Die - Handy Hardware
Supplies available now:
CS - White
Ink - Dark Chocolate, Going Gray (SU)
Paper - Cherry Wood Paper (Creative Imaginations)

{Thanks} card
Supplies not available now but available 4/15: 
Stamps - Handy Hardware
Die - Handy Hardware
Supplies available now:
Stamps - Background Basics: Farm & Barn
CS - White
Ink - Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Going Gray (SU)
 
{Screwed Up} card
Supplies not available now but available 4/15: 
Stamps - Handy Hardware
Supplies available now:
CS - White
Ink - True Black
Die - Double Ended Banner
Other - Gold Filigree Embossing Powder; screw brad, regular brads (Recollections); Black Shimmer cardstock

28 comments:

June K said...

TFS your stories to go along with your cards. I enjoyed reading your stories and what each cute card means to you. BTW I used to own some dressers like that but did not know they were called "campaign" style. You did a great job with the silver (now gold) brads.

Nancy said...

Fabulous cards, love your very creative ideas, I'm sure your Dad will love his cards too! Nice to hear your stories of all his help

Lizzie Jones said...

From one carpenter's daughter to another, thanks for giving this set such a wonderful introduction!

Anonymous said...

Love this set - I'm a carpenter's mom (and a woodcarving engineer's daughter) so this set is perfect for his cards.
Pat

Stephanie said...

I adore your dresser card...........the very artful way you tied together the sentiment with the hardware (screw brad cleverly used) on a chic rendition of a dresser. Just perfect in every way!!!

BTW, I know Round Top is further away than Canton, but if you haven't ever been, it's AWESOME!!! I just got back from a long weekend spent treasure hunting in Round Top, mostly Warrenton, with my mom and we both had a blast and came home with lots of treasures! it was my first time and I was in awe at the size and number of vendors. My mom lives in Wimberley, but we stayed in Brenham for the weekend. I enjoy Canton quite a bit too though. ;) Thanks for sharing your story with your card!

jintyoo7 said...

Amazing work, Jessica - and thank you, for sending me to work smiling at your hilarious writing :)

Nancy Penir said...

With samples like these, who can resist this set? By the way, be sure to post the finished desk when it's done.

Luanne said...

These are SO fantastic! And...do you loan out your Dad and Grandpa?? :-)

Cindy O said...

Great cards - love the details in all of them. My grandpa was a carpenter & my dad an electrical engineer, so I have many happy memories of their projects and trying to help!

Leigh Penner said...

Wow, Jess, these are all so fabulous! Amazing projects!!

Sue in Grapevine said...

I always save your post for last. You never fail to amuse & amaze -- I love different spin you put on the products.
Hope your girl has a great birthday!

natashakara said...

Wow! I am quite the opposite of a carpenters daughter. My family were in the Ladies fashion business. My DH can just about hammer a nail into something... (just about!)
BUT boy do you make me feel like I need this set.
I absolutely LOVE all your cards. So creative and inspiring. :)

Sharon said...

Great cards! My favorite is the one with the saw - so clever!

Ruth G said...

You are cracking me up with your carpenter stories and humor! Maybe you can build something with the wood blocks from those old-style rubber stamps you've probably got stashed away somewhere;-)!
I love your projects and love all the wonderful masculine themes of this release (I'm betting I missed the memo that said "this release will be perfect for Father's Day projects"! LOL!) I agree that the barn siding looks awesome behind the tools and I am chomping at the bit to emboss those tools in silver and try your technique with hot brads in embossing powder!!! Thanks so much for all you've shared today both eye candy and amusing words to go with it!!!

Tracey McNeely said...

Fabulous projects today Jess. Please share photos of your daughters gift. Although my father-in-law and husband are not carpenters they were and are amazing woodcrafters. I have a cherry curio cabinet that my husband made me 15 years ago from a tree that he had to cut down at work!

Crestajune said...

Just one more reason to like you! =) I am the daughter/granddaughter of a woodworker, also. I spent 15 years working alongside my dad in his cabinet shop, and I am so thankful for the experience. It is awesome to be able to know how to build! I think it makes me a better papercrafter as well. Thanks for the inspiration today, Jess! Awesome, as always! Have a fantastic day!

Kathryn A said...

I don't usually post on these individual blogs during a release, but I had to today. I really enjoyed the stories about your family. I LOVE these masculine stamp sets and wish I had someone in my family that was a carpenter/handyman, so that I could make cards for them. Since my dad passed away, there is no one left in my family who would appreciate this theme. I so regret that!! Thanks so much for sharing.

Lisa Petrella said...

Creative AWESOMENESS, Jess!!! Can't wait to see photos of the project you're working on for your daughter's birthday!!

RedGem said...

I truly enjoyed your cards and the wonderful stories. You are very lucky to have such wonderful inspiring people in your life. Tks for the great idea of the gift card.

Elizabeth S. said...

Love your stories today. Looking forward to seeing the project you and your father are working on for your daughter. My dad was also wonderful with woodworking. He built the first house I ever lived in. Now my husband does woodworking in his spare time. He has built several things for me and our children.

conil said...

Amazing cards...every single one of them. The wooden gift card holder is nothing short of AWESOME as is the "campaign chest" card. Just plain gorgeous. Thanks for the embossed brad and board background tips.

Sandy said...

great idea the wood paper & gift card

Holly Saveur said...

Such fab cards ..LOVE them such great ideas!

paula e. said...

Love your creative cards!!!! I am always in need of masculine images for the guys in my life so Handy Hardware should fit the bill. Thanks for sharing. I so enjoy reading your commentary, too!

Barbara B said...

I just love all your tool-inspired cards.
Need to card-lift these!

Alice said...

absolutely fabulous!! love love love these!!

Cristina said...

Holy mackerel!!!!! So much awesomesauce in one post!

Susan Gosman said...

Wonderful ideas - thanks for the inspiration!